Better Than Buck-A-Beer

For years I've had hundreds of dollars worth of homebrew equipment sitting in the basement collecting dust. At a time, my parents were all over homebrewed beer, wine, and brandy, using equipment mostly acquired for free from an old family friend.

By the time I was almost 19, the equipment hadn't been touched in 7 or 8 years, and I decided to try to resurrect it with an old malt kit at least as old. I knew enough at the time that I would need fresh brewers yeast to actually ferment the beer, but aside from that neglected the past due date.

I managed to stomach half a beer from that batch before pouring the rest of it down the drain. Another 5 years later, I decided to give it a go again, and this time I'm somewhat more pleased. I bottled the 23L batch today, and even right out of the fermenter it tastes alright. A couple weeks of bottle fermentation and it should be a great source of cheap thrills. The only problem being that I managed to screw some part of the process up, and the estimate for final alcohol content by volume is around 3.2%.

Still, at a third of the price of the cheapest piss-water from the beer store, I'll take it and try to get more out of it on the next run.

My Caucus

This is a Scientific Poll
	Vote Colbert, Fuck Yea!
	$30,000 - 34,999
	all of the above
	no
	Rudy Giuliani
	Nick
	David Bowie
	steroids
	Liechtenstein
pollcode.com free polls

If TMZ, ET, VH1 or people sitting at home infront of their TVs cared as much about the hundreds of thousands of people with mental disorders that send them into a downward spiral as they did the same process with Britney Spears and her millions of dollars, there would be a lot fewer homeless guys on the street driving fear into their heart by asking for spare change.

Picture Show

Fin.

Capitalizing on the Spirit of X-Mas

After looking on and off at Digital SLR cameras for over a year, and moreso since the dollar hit parity with the US, I couldn't pass up the deal on my new Digital Rebel XT.

For the most part I had done all the research comparing the entry level SLR models months ago, so it only took a little more reading, and an assuring e-mail from px about the performance of his, albeit higher end, but comparable camera.

Also impressive was that I got the camera in the mail one and a half business days after I confirmed purchase online, despite the number of units (1000 of my camera model alone) they must have been shipping out. Mark one in favour of the efficiency of a big box chain I suppose.

I've barely scratched the surface on its function use so far, and have been extremely impressed. I've expertly captured (lucked into) some nice shots already, but I'm sure there will be plenty more to come, so I'll hold those back for now, and wow you all with some outstanding birthday shots on my old camera.

Despite only a few of the people 'maybe attending' showing up, the birthday was a blast. Rounds of shots, with not a single prairie fire consumed, NTN trivia, a rumble in the streetside garden 5 feet from the bar, and a scarf not more than 6 hours old (a gift from the girlfriend no less) lost and presumably donated to a homeless man. The hangover didn't even really bring home the fact that I was another year older this time around.

X-mas around here was, as expected, a low key affair. But New Years is going to put an end to all the relaxing, a trip to a friend's cottage for a few days ironically is going to be the least relaxing part of my holidays. Though it should provide some great opportunities to play with my new toy. A lengthy photo post here should follow.

Happy New Year.

The Christians Need to Reclaim Christmas

I forget what network was touting this story line, but I am pretty sure it was the local CTV outlet advertising a segment on Christmas, and asking the question along the lines of "is it time for Christians to reclaim Christmas?" Are they serious!? First of all, I guarantee that its some of the purest 'Christians' our there that go and inflate numbers to the point that the average person spends $1000 on x-mas gifts, and buy into the whole commercialism they turn around and say is tainting the holiday.

But at this point, when the mission for many seems to be to convert the world anyways, why not embrace that everyone has bought into a holiday that in many cases transcends religious borders. Its not just Christians that are buying Christmas presents, and sharing in a sense of community around this time of year. While some downplay the issue, or keep low key during the holidays, there are plenty more that engage in the same gift giving, camaraderie and such that the 'holiday season' has really become; and after all, isn't that the point?

If some Jesus figure was to become the latest incarnate and come along and see people more or less enjoying getting together with people for the holidays, wouldn't they praise it? I sure didn't complain when one of the girls at the lab last term brought in pastries for everyone for Diwali, and I guarantee there will be no Hindu outcry against me for partaking in part of the ritual of one of their sacred days. But the Christians say its time to restake claim to the holiday? I say its a bunch of bullshit inspired by guilty conscience for not living up to what you feel your scripture asks of you, combined with an elitist mentality.

No need to start a crusade against commercialism or whatever else if you're one of these people with a guilty conscience, just go to church at more than just Christmas and Easter. For the rest of us who just see it as a time to relax, and for those that aren't wracked with guilt, grab some eggnog, and enjoy your new toys and drinking with your friends and family. It will be back to work soon enough.

In all honesty, happy holidays to everyone, regardless of your beliefs. Let me know if you see any good boxing day deals on Digital SLR cameras.

"..shorter of breath, and one day closer to death."

Yes friends, its that day of the year again. Late December, the most important birthday of the year. No uncertainty or fictitiousness about this one, unfortunately.

I'll be spending my day playing games, and making sure to not be heading uptown on an empty stomach. The night will undoubtedly be spent drinking, and fielding questions about if/when/why/why not I'm going back to school/work; questions that I've been hearing all to often lately. I suppose if I'd just make up my mind it would make things a lot easier. Perhaps I'll just go with lying to people for the night. In any case, I'm sure the questions will be met with abrupt responses, so if you're reading this ahead of meeting me at the bar tonight, you've been warned. If you're not reading it till after you've talked to me tonight, you know why I was that way.

And here's hoping I'm actually functional enough tomorrow to go out and finish grabbing a few little gifts for x-mas so I don't have to go out at all this weekend in the madness.

Cheers.


Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in the relative way, but youre older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought Id something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
And when I come home cold and tired
Its good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
Time - Pink Floyd

Palmula Handerson

I guess after 3 marriages, it doesn't take a person long to recognize when its going south. But shit, I'm sure a lot of people keep dairy products in their fridges for longer than that lasted.

Prenups, 2 month marriages; nothing like washing out more meaning from an already faded tardition.

Who knows if there's a whole new sex tape scandal that will come out of this one. I wonder what the Vegas books have the odds at. On the same note...I wonder what the chances are that Pamela ends up back with one of Tommy or 'Kid' in the next 4 months. Vegas making money off of a Canadian woman that isn't named Dion? What?

Crackdown

It appears that there is some kind of crackdown on liquor licensed venues in the area. I understand shutting down strip clubs because of contact between the patrons and the girls, but is revoking a license from a bar because people go there to drink really necessary?

The Stampede Corral in Kitchener is losing it's liquor license for 15 days. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario issued the suspension after an incident in May of this year.
In a release the Commission said drunken patrons were observed in the bar.

These people must have been a wreck, else the officer on hand had a real stick up their ass; probably because they were forced to be hanging around observing the goings on at the Stampede.

In news that would also seem to be explained by lots of drinking, bloggers Danielle and Chad got engaged while I was neglecting reading this week. Something that can be proposed over Gmail chat can't be all bad, or can it? In any case, congratulations are in order.

And now its time to go grab some booze before the weather drops a big white turd everywhere.